Clutch-operating device



Feb.- 5, 1929. 1,701,118

L. J. M. PETERSON Filed April 15, 1927 Inventor Z. f/Z 2762mm)? AttorneyPatented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES TENT O FICE.

LEWELL J. m. rn'rnnson, or NEWARK, rumors..

CLUTCH-OPERATING nnvrcn.

Application filed April 15, 192 Serial No. 154,057.

ence to a hand actuated extension lever which has operating connectionwith a clutch pedal and which is located in close proximity to thedrivers seat for more convenient manipulation. I i

My principal aim is to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensivearrangement of parts which are associated in a manner to make forconvenient operation, and which are constructed to permit themato bemounted upon the machine without requiring alterations of the existingstock parts. 1

The details, as well as their novelorganization will be quite plain fromthe following descri tion and drawings. t

Int e drawings Figure 1 is a side view of the complete device orattachment, showlng the method in which it is placed in position, andhow it cooperates with the clutch pedal.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken approximately upon the plane of theline 22 of Fig. 1, looking downwardly.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views of the details as they appearwhen separated.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the pin and slot connectionsbetween the lifting link and clutch pedal clamp.

In the drawings, the reference character 1 designates the ordinaryclutch pedal while the reference character 2 designates the operatingrod which is connected therewith.

One of the main features of the improved attachment is the elongatedlever 3 which has an upturned extremity 4 providing an operating handlewhich is located within con venient reach of the drivers seat. This leveis pivotally mounted between its center and the forward end on asupporting bracket 5. This bracket, as better shown in Fig. 5, comprisesa vertical upright 6 having an outwardly offset extremity 7 with whichthe lever is pivotally connected, as shown. This bracket also includes ahorizontal extension 8 which is fastened to the frame of the machine inany appropriate manner.

The forward end of the operating lever is pivotally connected to theupper end of a. lifting link 9. This link is better shown in Fig. 4, andcomprises a section 10 withwhich the lever is pivotally connected, anoutwardly offset intermediate portion 11, and a depending extremity 12having an elongated slot 13. The slotted end 12 is connected with theclamp let through the medium of the pin 15, (see Fig. 6 pp The purposeof thispin and slot connection will be hereinafter described.

, This clamp is made up of a pair ofmetal straps 16 which are fastenedtogether, and

which have a fork atthe rear end, the arm 17 of this fork (see Fig.2),straddlingthe lower end of the link, beingconnected tliereto by theaforesaid pin 15. From Fig.1,it will be noted that the forward end ofthe clamp terminates in a pair of outwardly converging portions whichare formed to provide clamping jaws 18 which surround and i are fastenedto the shank of the pedal 1.

Thisclamp forms what functions as a rocker arm for the clutch pedal, therocking motion being provided by the vertical movement of the liftinglink 9. This vertical movement is of course provided by way of operationof the lever 3.

A suitable retaining device is provided for the lever, this being shownbetter in Fig. 3. It comprises a standard 19 fastened to the frame ofthe machine at an inclined angle as shown. 011 the inner side, is ametal retainer 20, which has its opposite ends 21 and 22 bent outwardlyto provide upper and lower keeper seats for the handle forming end ofthe lever.

The disengaged position of the clutch is shown by the full lines and theengaged po sition is shown by the dotted lines. Obviously then, when itis desired to hold theclutch pedal in the disengaged position, thehandle portion of the lever 3 is hooked under the keeper 22 in themanner shown in Figure 1. By disengaging the handle from the keeper itis obvious that the usual spring return (not shown) of the clutchmechanism will serve to move the clutch pedal from the disengagedposition in full lines to the engaged position shown in dotted lines.The aforesaidpin and slot connection between the rocker arm 14 and thelink 9 permits the necessary freedomof movement between the auxiliaryoperating device and the clutch pedal. In other words the presence ofthis pin and slot connection prevents interference of the back and forthmovement of theclutch with the operating device. 1 1

Attention is invited to the fact that the hand grip 4 on the operatinglever 3 is located at a point and at an elevation to permit it to beconveniently grasped by theoperator while Walking along behind themachine. It

will therefore be seen that thelever may be operated either whileoccupying the seat,

or by walking along on'the ground by the side:

ventionhas been shown and described, it is to be understood that minorchanges coming within the field of invention claimed maybe resorted toif desired.

Having thus described my invention, whatv I claim as new is 1. In astructure of the class described, a rocker arm provided with clamps forconnection to a clutch operating member, an upwardly extending liftinglink disposed at substantial right angles to said arm and having pin andslot connection with said arm, an operating lever pivotally connectedwith said link, and a supporting and pivotal mounting bracket for saidlever.

2. In a structure of the class described, a

rocker arm provided with clamps for connection to a clutch operatingmember, an upwardly extending lifting link disposed at substantial rightangles to said arm and having pin and slot connection with said arm, anoperating lever pivotally connected with said link, 7 a supporting andpivotal mounting bracket for said lever, together with a retainingdevicecomprising a standard provided on one side with a part formed at itsopposite ends to provide upper and lower keeper seats for an end portionof said lever.

3. In a structure of the class described, a machine attachmentcomprising a rocker arm having outwardly diverging clamps at its forwardend adapted for connection with .the clutch operating pedal, a rightangularly disposed. link, said link having pin and slot connection withan adjacent end of said arm, a supporting bracket embodying an uprighthaving an offset portion, and an attaching part at its lower end, ahorizontaloperating lever pivotally connected to the offset end of saidupright and to the upper end of said link, said lever terminating in an.upturned end portion forming a handle, and a retaining device for saidhandleembodying a standard provided on one side with upper and lowerkeeper seats for selective reception of the handle portion of the lever.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LEVVELL J. M. PETERSON.

